Ugandan embassy in Cairo closed over protests

Jun 30, 2013

PROTESTS in Cairo against one year rule of President Morsi has forced Uganda''s High Commissioner Richard Laus Angualia to temporarily close

By Vision Reporter

DEMONSTRATIONS in Cairo against one year rule of  President Morsi has forced Uganda's High Commissioner Richard Laus Angualia to temporarily close its operations.

Thousands of activists gathered in Tahrir Square and at Mursi's suburban presidential palace, not far from the Islamist camp.  

Major rallies were not expected before late afternoon and streets in major cities are quiet as the working week resumed. The army has warned it might intervene if politicians remain deadlocked and violence spiralled out of control.

Speaking on phone from Cairo on Sunday, Angualia says he has advised all  Ugandans in Cairo to stay indoors.

Thousands of opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gather for a protest calling for his ouster at Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square on Sunday. AFP PHOTO

"There are 600 Ugandans here in Cairo most of them are students. The highest number of 150 are in Islamic University. Cairo University has 30 students and 1z others are in another University. There is also a big number of casual workers here"

"I have issued alert message to all Ugandans living in Cairo and other Egyptian cities asking them to be calm. We have had consultations as  East African Community Ambassadors and are on the look out, If the situation degenerates, we shall make contacts with airlines to evacuate citizens."

So far no Ugandan has been directly affected by the demonstration according to Angualia.

Uganda has more than 1000 citizens in Egypt; 150 students in Al Azhar University, 41 in Cairo University, 17 in Alexandria. 

According to Emmaculate Katongole, Chairperson of the diaspora community, there are about 800 registered members and lots more not registered living in Cairo.

Opposition calls for intervention

Egypt's army should intervene if President Mohamed Morsi refuses to step down in response to calls from anti-government protests, a leading opposition figure told AFP Sunday.

He was speaking Sunday as millions flooded the streets calling for Islamist Morsi's departure on the anniversary of his turbulent first year in power, the biggest protests Egypt has seen since the 2011 revolt.

"The armed forces must act, because they have always been on the side of the people," which "has expressed its will", said Hamdeen Sabahi, who came third in the 2012 presidential election, running as a left-wing nationalist candidate.

An Egyptian protester shout slogans as demonstrators march through the streets of Cairo on their way to join thousands protesting against President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood at Tahrir Square. AFP PHOTO

"The Egyptians trust the armed forces," and their chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had himself said he would respect the will of the people.

"The people are wondering where the armed forces are, and are waiting for General Sisi to keep his word," he added.

The best outcome would be if Morsi went of his own accord, Sabbahi said: otherwise, "he will have to be forced to bend to the popular will."

Sisi, who is defence minister, warned a week ago that the army could step in if serious violence broke out between supporters and opponents of the embattled president.

"The armed forces have the obligation to intervene to stop Egypt from plunging into a dark tunnel of conflict and infighting," he said.

He did not say on which side the army would intervene.

Earlier Sunday, a military source, speaking to AFP, said of Sunday's turnout: "It is the biggest protest in Egypt's history." "Millions" of people were on the streets across the country, he added.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});